Monthly Archives: January 2011
HOTR Puppy Cake
| January 30, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Misc |
Regular posting will resume tomorrow. But for now…
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The HOTR-family Puppy Cake recipe is a long-standing tradition that actually started back with this little girl — our first boxer, Chloe Kath-a-leen (pronounced with an emphasis, of course 
). Every year, we’d make her a very special cake to celebrate her birthday, and she’d go crazy for it every time.
Although Chloe isn’t with us any longer, I’m happy to be able to carry on the tradition with my own pup.
And okay, so I admit I may have (unintentionally) misled you. Calling it a “cake” may be stretching it just a bit. But I assure you, dogs will eat this right up all the same!
The “recipe” is extremely simple. All I did was take about 1 cup of his normal food (I feed him Life’s Abundance, which I love because it contains no by-products) and mix it with a spoonful of natural peanut butter and nice big dollop of plain Greek yogurt.
If I had left it at that, it probably wouldn’t have been too unhealthy. But, I’m a firm believer that birthdays call for something extra special. So I “frosted” it with more whipped cream than a dog should probably eat in an entire year.
Yes I know, he’s spoiled. But he’s also incredibly skinny, so I figured a little extra fat couldn’t hurt. Plus, how can I say no to this face?
Eager anticipation
I made sure to dress up for the occasion
I’ll spare you from the 6:00 minute video I made of the event, which includes my warbling rendition of “Happy Birthday” and him devouring the cake in one minute flat…then proceeding to lick the floor for the next five.
But I think it’s safe to say he loved it. And I’m pretty sure your dog would too!
So there you have it — The “secret” HOTR Family Puppy Cake recipe. Totally worth waiting a whole year for.
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Okay, I promise — this is the last time this blog will be in puppy-overload. Back to normal tomorrow
A Very Special Birthday
| January 29, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Misc |
We interrupt our regular posting schedule for a very special announcement:
Today is my baby’s 1st Birthday!
I can’t believe how fast the time has gone by. And how quickly he’s grown from this:
To this:
When Koli came into my life, I actually hadn’t been looking for a puppy. I’d wanted a dog of my own forever, but always thought I’d adopt an older dog (Boxer, of course!) for my first one. However, once I found out that a family member’s Boxer had a litter of puppies, I just knew I had to have one of my own.
And although having a puppy has been a lot of work (and at times, very stressful), I wouldn’t change it for the world. This little guy is my buddy. I’ve loved watching him grow over this past year, and am excited for many more adventures together in years to come.
So today, in honor of my little man’s birthday, I will overload you with puppy pictures. And then I’m going to go make him a “cake” — complete with kibble, peanut butter, plain yogurt, and whippin’ cream. 
Happy Birthday little guy!
Lentil Tacos Remix
| January 27, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Dinner, HOTR Eats |
To be completely honest, I probably shouldn’t even be posting this. I mean, it’s hardly a recipe, and it doesn’t even look pretty. But the truth is, this pile of mush is the most delicious dinner I’ve had in awhile. And I’m the type of person who, once I’ve discovered a new combination, has a strong urge to share it with the world as if I’m the only person in the history of the earth who has ever thought to mix these things together. So let’s just pretend I am for a minute, okay?
It started out just like any other night. I had a strong craving for lentil tacos, so I took out a pot to boil some water. But somewhere along the way, I got distracted by the sweet potatoes in the cupboard, and I suddenly needed to have one immediately. And that, my friends, is where creative genius was born.
Since I employed my favorite cooking method (the dump and pour), there really isn’t a great recipe to share. But I assure you, this is one of the easiest things you could ever make. The toughest part is waiting for everything to cook! Not only that, but the ingredients are inexpensive, and it’s a nutritional powerhouse! Packed with protein, fiber, and vitamins…and extremely low in fat. What more could a person ask for?
Lentil Taco Remix
What You’ll Need
- 1/2 cup cooked lentils
- 12 oz can of black beans
- 1 sweet potato
- Spices
- Salt
- Paprika
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Dash of crushed red pepper
Directions
1.) Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wash sweet potato and poke with a fork several times. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil and place directly on oven rack. Bake until soft, or about 1 hour. You’ll know it’s done when you see little bubbles of liquid coming out of the holes (that’s the sugar!).
2.) Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil to cook the lentils. For a tip, see my no fail lentil prep – it works great every time! But the secret is to use a lot of water. Cook the lentils like pasta — don’t worry about having extra water at the end. It’s also helpful to cook extra lentils all at once, to have them on hand for the rest of the week.
3.) When the lentils are close to being done, place about 3/4 of the can of beans into a small pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes, until heated through.
4.) Remove sweet potato from the oven, take off the skin, and mash.
5.) Once lentils are soft (after about 30 – 45 minutes), drain excess water. Place about a 1/2 cup in a bowl with sweet potato and black beans.
6.) Now it’s time to season! I honestly just wing it, but the trick is to use a lot of paprika and cumin, slightly less chili powder, and just a dash of crushed red pepper — unless you like things extra spicy. It’s really up to you. Everyone has a different “spice tolerance” so feel free to taste-test as you go. I’m told all the best chefs do it.
**Hint: if the sweet potato is taking too long to cook for your liking, you can always put it in the microwave. Microwaving a sweet potato is so easy! Just poke holes as you would if you were going to bake it. Place on a paper towel and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Flip over and repeat. You’ll know it’s done when it’s soft and bubbly.**
Enjoy! Depending on how you serve it, this can definitely make enough to serve two. Use as filling in a burrito, combine with other taco fillings, eat plain as a side dish (or meal), or enjoy as a salad!
Massaged kale (drizzle of olive oil + salt), tomato, lentil taco remix, and cheddar cheese
It’s delicious no matter how you eat it. Just get creative…that way maybe you can convince people that your meal took forever to make and should probably be considered a culinary masterpiece for all the work you put in.
This might become a new obsession. I’ve already decided how I’m going to use it next.
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By the way, if you’re actually looking for something substantial to read, I suggest you read my very strong opinion about convenience store drive-thrus and weigh in here! There are definitely some great thoughts in the comments.
Shop Without Ever Leaving Your Car
| January 25, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Health News |
Rhode Island may be the smallest sized state in the U.S., but that doesn’t mean we don’t have our fair share of accomplishments. Not only does our little state have the longest name (The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations), but it was the first place in the US where polo was played, is home to the world’s largest bug, has the oldest village in New England (Pawtuxet Village), hosted the first open gulf tournament, and apparently never ratified the 18th Amendment…which, in case you’re wondering, was prohibition (I guess we Rhode Islanders love our booze a little too much).
Now it seems we have one more “accomplishment” to add to our name: Rhode Island has become the first state in all of New England to offer a convenience store drive-thru. Yep, you heard right. Cumberland Farms, your favorite gas station and convenience store, has decided to start offering drive-thrus to make our lives easier. The first one is being tested down in Kingston, Rhode Island, and the chain plans to add more by the summer.
Don’t they look so happy?
(Source)
So the next time you need to pick up a drink and a roll of toilet paper on the way home, you shouldn’t worry — you can order them both right at the window, along with any of the store’s other 3,000 products!
“We’re not just in the convenience store business, we’re in the business of providing for the on-the-go customer,” said Ari Haseotes, president of the Framingham company.
That’s right — thanks to people like Ari Haseotes, us on-the-go Americans never have to get out of the car again! And it’s a good thing too, because time is money, and the less time you waste doing mundane tasks like walking around a store, the more money in your pocket. Right?
Right…
I just have to ask — how lazy can we get?? Seriously. Last I checked, convenience stores are pretty small. And I’m guessing they only take about 10 to 15 minutes to walk around, tops….and that’s if you walk really, really slow. Most times, you can glance around, identify the right aisle, grab what you need and get out of there in less than 5 minutes. Do we really need the extra few seconds that not having to leave our car will give us?
And even more importantly — do we really need another reason to sit? It seems to me like Americans are sitting pretty well. We sit in our cars to drive to work, we sit at our desk, we sit on the way home (with quick stops, of course, at McDonald’s drive-thru for dinner and Cumbys for a few household items…all the while still sitting) and then we sit on the couch. All. Night. Long. At the rate we’re going, we’ll never have to stand again!
As lovely as that may sound (standing is hard work, I know), our never-ending quest to make things more convenient isn’t exactly doing our health any good. We all know the stats: rates of obesity have increased dramatically over the last 20 years, roughly 30% of the population is obese (source), and this generation of children is the first that may have a shorter life expectancy than their parents (source). Not only is America’s weight problem threatening our lives, but it’s expensive too! Direct medical costs from obesity are in the billions of dollars.
So why, then, do we continue to shape the environment in ways that make it easier and easier for us to be unhealthy? And why are we letting our need for fast solutions and a company’s need for greater profits dictate the type of environment we live in? At some point, America needs a wake-up call. Because this Cumberland Farms idea isn’t just a drive-thru, and it’s not just a new and novel concept to make our lives easier. It represents another step in the wrong direction. A step away from encouraging people to get up and get moving. To walk for transportation, to slow down and enjoy life a little. And it represents a sad trend — where the fastest solution will always be the most profitable.
I’m sorry if you think the ability to order a few snacks and some toothpaste through a window without leaving your warm car on a cold winter day is pretty cool. I honestly find the whole thing a bit ridiculous. And it makes me wonder – where this will ever stop?
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I’ve said my piece, now let’s hear yours! Is this drive-thru the epitome of our laziness? Or do you totally disagree, and think it’s the greatest thing since, well the invention of drive-thrus!
Runner’s Therapy: the power of a tempo run
| January 23, 2011 | Posted by Lauren under Motivation, Running |
First of all, I loved reading all of your confessions. And I’m happy to discover that I’m not the only one who ignores the treadmill’s incline button and doesn’t always shower on days I don’t work out. It’s the little things in life…
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In the spirit of confessions, I should admit that I’m not the best about doing regular speedwork. In fact, that’s what first drew me to marathons — training that just involved running at a slow, steady pace and no track workouts?? Sign me up!
But as I’m sure many of you know, if you want to get faster at any distance, eventually you’ve got to do some speedy runs. While I’ve done some sporadic speedwork in past training cycles, this is the first time I’ve been pretty diligent about doing it every week. Going in, my hope was that it would make me faster. What’s been surprising, however, is how therapeutic a tempo run can actually be.
A true example of this happened during my run on Friday. It was the end of a very tiring and frustrating week where I felt like I was in a constant battle with my body. All week long I had been fighting weird flu-like symptoms — extreme fatigue, headaches, nausea, and horrible muscle aches. And not “I’m feeling sore from a great workout” kind of aches, either. I wasn’t actually sick though, so I tried to just take it easy and slog through my workouts — doing the minimal amount just to get the training in. By the time Friday afternoon finally rolled around, I was ready to skip my workout altogether. My pup, my couch, and a warm drink were calling my name.
Somehow, I got my tired butt to the gym. And wouldn’t you know it — in spite of everything, I ended up having an amazing run. It’s funny how sometimes running (or whatever other activity we really enjoy) can give us exactly what we need when we least expect it.
So the next time you’re having a rough day, week, or even month, instead of curling up on the couch, try a little Running Therapy — in the form of a glorious tempo run.
HOTR Tempo Therapy
1.) First of all, forget lifting, cross training, or yoga. It doesn’t matter what your schedule says — all you need right now is a little quality time on the treadmill (or roads if you’re outside).
2.) Put on your headphones, but skip over your usual running playlist filled with crappy pop music and hip hop songs. Those are great most days, but just aren’t gonna cut it tonight. Instead, turn on something that has a lot more emotion to it, and lyrics with actual meaning. Something like “Little Lion Man” by Mumford & Sons (yes, I am admittedly obsessed).
Click to watch on YouTube
3.) As you start your run, turn up that music so loud that you can feel it envelop you (this is why I’d recommend the treadmill). if you can still hear the treadmill or other gym goers around you, your music isn’t loud enough. Seriously — stop worrying about bursting your eardrums. Just turn that baby up until you can feel every beat of the drum and strum of the bass guitar in your bones.
4.) The first chords begin to play, and amazingly enough, you will feel your legs start loosening up. Suddenly all that anger and frustration you’ve been holding in all week will start to build up. As you focus on the crescendo of the song, channel that frustration into your legs. You’ll be filled by a surge of energy you didn’t know you had.
5.) But don’t get too excited yet. Let yourself warm up for a mile or so. Go back to the beginning of “Little Lion Man” and listen to it again. Finally, when you can’t stand going slow any longer, hit that speed button until you’re running at a fast tempo pace. Stop worrying about how tired you were feeling, how awful your runs have been all week, and how you had expected to just slog through this one. Just listen to your music and run.
6.) And run and run and run. Keep running and listening to that same song on repeat until
a.) the song starts losing it’s power to motivate. In which case, I’d suggest switching to “The Cave,” “Roll Away Your Stone,” “Awake My Soul,” or “Winter Winds.” (Yes, they’re all Mumford & Sons songs. I told you I was obsessed.**)
b.) all the anger has melted away and instead you suddenly feel a strong urge to leap off the treadmil and dance a jig around the gym, or
c.) you want to throw up. Option C isn’t exactly recommended, but if you’re already feeling a little “off” your stomach may feel the need to remind you that you don’t actually have wings or superhuman running powers.
Yes, if others heard what you were doing, they may think you’re a bit crazy. But this is therapy. Don’t question it. Just trust in the process.
7.) Cool down, go home, clean up, eat a dinner packed with veggies, snack on some chocolate, and go to bed at 10:30, despite the fact that it’s a Friday night. You’ll be guaranteed to wake up the next morning feeling like a new (wo)man.
And that’s all there is too it! Obviously some days running is going to be tough no matter what. But sometimes, if you can just get yourself moving, you’ll be surprised by how much better a nice, hard run can make you feel.
**But really, although I might have an unnatural love for them, Mumford & Sons makes a great running soundtrack. The music is packed with emotion and pretty much every song has a great crescendo that’ll really get you moving! So download it. Now.
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